SOMERSET Sabres’ hopes of winning the Pro40 Division One title suffered a blow as they went down by two wickets to Essex Eagles in an exciting floodlit game at the County Ground on Tuesday.

Despite posting a below-par 205 all out, Somerset looked on course for victory after reducing the Eagles to 12-3.

But, inspired by John Maunders’ 78, Essex rallied and reached their target from the first ball of the final over.

It means Somerset do not have their destiny in their own hands. Even if the Sabres win their final three games, Sussex will take the title by defeating Worcestershire in their last match.

After the defeat Somerset skipper Justin Langer said: “We didn’t bat as well as we can after a good start and one or two of us didn’t turn up.

“Usually the first 15 overs of both innings proves decisive and we won both in this game but still ended up losing. It got away from us in the closing overs.

“Hopefully we can win our remaining games and Sussex will slip up. There’s still a chance.”

The night started well enough for Somerset. Put in to bat, openers Marcus Trescothick – after being dropped on naught – and Craig Kieswetter got the side off to their customery flying start, putting on 68 in good time.

Trescothick was first to go for 42 from 32 balls and Kieswetter followed for 36 from 32 with the score on 90.

However, left-arm spinner Tim Phillips cut through the Somerset middle order, accounting for Langer (16), James Hildreth (16), Zander de Bruyn (33) and Pete Trego (27), who all got starts.

He went on to finish with 5-36 as Somerset were all out for 205, losing their last wicket in the final over. Things could have been worse for Somerset, had Essex not shelled five catches.

In reply, Essex quickly slipped to 12-3 as the outstanding Charl Willoughby (2-28 from eight) and Alfonso Thomas (2-28 from 7.1) turned the screw.

Maunders and James Foster (38) helped the side recover to 90-3 but they were well behind the Duckworth Lewis target when the game was almost abandoned amid safety fears about high winds affecting the floodlight pylons.

However, the wind eased and Foster fell soon after to spark a mini-collapse which left Essex 123-6.

Pete Trego bowled Maunders with the score on 171, but man of the match Phillips put Essex back on top with 41 from 35 balls before being run out.

That left Essex needing 16 runs from 16 balls, and a couple of boundaries from Chris Wright saw them home with five balls to spare.